John Carver has finally opened up about the bitterness that surrounded his exit from Newcastle United in 2004, revealing how tensions with Graeme Souness led him to storm out of the club and how they have not spoken since.
Carver, who spent time at St James’ Park in multiple roles as a player, coach, and manager was closely associated with Sir Bobby Robson, serving as his assistant.
When Robson departed in August 2004, Carver stepped up as caretaker manager, guiding Newcastle to a memorable 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers before Graeme Souness was brought in as Robson’s permanent replacement.
Despite the temporary success he had achieved, Carver’s relationship with Souness quickly soured. Speaking to the Scottish Sun, he recounted the pivotal moment that triggered his departure.
According to Carver, Souness could have approached their working relationship differently, but instead, his actions felt disrespectful. “Graeme Souness came into Newcastle, and we didn’t see eye to eye,” Carver explained. “All he had to do was embrace me, but he didn’t.”
Carver vividly recalled a day shortly after Souness’ arrival, when he realized that the new manager had bypassed him entirely in introducing his backroom staff. After Newcastle’s international break, Souness arrived with Dean Saunders, Alan Murray, and Phil Boersma, presenting them to the players while Carver and his own staff sat nearby, excluded from the conversation.
The situation was made even more awkward when Saunders casually referenced Carver’s past actions during a European game, which Carver interpreted as undermining him in front of his peers. “I am a straight talker, and I don’t mess about,” Carver said. “I looked at Graeme, and he realized I wasn’t very happy.”
The discussion that followed only confirmed the widening gap between them. Souness insisted he was bringing in his own people, while Carver tried to remain professional, even considering a different role at the club as academy director.
Ultimately, Carver decided to step away entirely. He recounted, “I just walked out, went to my office, packed my bags, and out I went. Now, if I saw him in a room, I would not shake his hand.
That’s how strongly I feel about it.” Carver made it clear that the disagreement wasn’t about footballing ability he acknowledged Souness’ status as a legendary player but about personal respect and communication.
Souness’ tenure at Newcastle was fraught with difficulties, and results on the pitch mirrored the fractured dynamics behind the scenes. In his first season, the Magpies plummeted from fifth in the Premier League during 2003-04 to 14th, and midway through the 2005-06 campaign, with Newcastle 15th, Souness was dismissed.
The team’s fortunes eventually improved under Glenn Roeder, who guided Newcastle to seventh place by taking 32 points from the final 15 games.
Carver would return to St James’ Park years later, joining Alan Pardew’s staff in 2011 as assistant manager. He later stepped up as interim manager during the 2014-15 season following Pardew’s departure, narrowly steering the club clear of relegation.
Despite these returns, Carver’s early experience with Souness remains a defining and painful memory, shaping how he views respect and loyalty within football management.
Today, Carver continues his managerial career abroad and internationally. He is currently serving as assistant manager of the Scotland national team while also managing Polish side Lechia Gdańsk.
Reflecting on his Newcastle years, Carver’s story is a reminder of how personal dynamics behind the scenes can shape careers just as much as on-field performance.
His departure from the club in 2004 may have been abrupt, but it highlighted the importance of respect, trust, and clear communication in high-pressure football environments a lesson that Carver carries with him to this day.
